9/13/18- I added a little bit to this chapter. I like it better now.

Gale had been convinced to tag along on Johanna's visit to 12. He wasn't looking forward to it, but if it made Johanna happy, he would do it.

"We're stopping in 4 to see Annie and Finnley," Johanna told him a day before they were to leave. It had been a while since she had seen them and she missed them.

"Me too?" He asked.

"Yes, you too. We're spending the night at their house and then heading to 12 early the next morning."

"Are you sure Annie is okay with me coming?"

"Of course she is."

"What'd you tell her?"

"That I would have a friend with me. She asked me who, I said you and she said that was alright. So we're going." Johanna said in a tone of voice that told Gale he probably shouldn't ask more questions. She had decided what was happening and it was in his best interest to keep his mouth shut.

And so they left for 4. It was a very, very short train ride in comparison to the trek they would be making to 12 the next day.

Annie was waiting for them on the platform, Finnley was beside her, excited to see Johanna. He still had his bookbag on from school.

Gale had only been to 4 a handful of times, all for work, so he never stayed long or seen much beside official buildings. The air smelled different the moment he stepped off the train- it smelled sharp and salty, but not unpleasant. It smelled like the sea.

"Johanna!" Cried a little voice and a little body barreled itself into her legs.

Johanna laughed and scooped up the little boy in his bookbagged glory. "Hey, you. I missed you. Stop getting so big!"

"I missed you more!" Finnley announced, wrapping his arms around her neck. Finnley noticed Gale then.

"Who's that?" Finnley asked Johanna, pointing towards Gale.

"Oh, that's Gale." Johanna said casually. "He's a friend of mine. He was at the big party last year, remember?"

Finnley screwed up his face and thought for a moment. "Kinda,"

Gale noticed that the little boy looked like his father. So much so that Gale felt a little uneasy at the sight of him. Even his smile was the same. He hadn't really gotten a good look at the boy at the war commemoration, or maybe he hadn't wanted to see a little Finnick.

"Hi Gale!" Finnley chirped pleasantly.

"Hello Finnley. It's nice to meet you."

Finnley smiled and returned to hugging Johanna with all the enthusiasm a six year old boy could muster. And Johanna squeezed him back.

Annie hugged Johanna around her son, and to Gale's surprise, he received a hug from Annie as well.

"It's nice to see you again, Gale." Annie said with a sweet smile. So sweet, always so sweet. Johanna had remarked once that she wasn't sure how Annie was capable of remaining so sweet, so kind, after everything she had been through, but she appreciated it. It was a breath of fresh air.

"You too, Annie."

Johanna and Gale followed Annie and Finnley to their house. It was not an old Victor's Village house, but it was just as beautiful as one. It was a short walk from the back door to the ocean, and you could hear the waves from inside the house. On the train, Johanna had told Gale that she, Katniss, and Peeta had made sure that house would be built. It was Finnick's dream for him and Annie after they got married, and their friends had insisted on making it possible.

Finnley had insisted on showing Gale his room and all around the house, while Johanna smirked from her place at the kitchen table with Annie. Gale tagged along after the little boy and his enthusiastic chatter, eventually ending in them playing some convoluted two-person game of tag Finnley had created.

"You like him," Annie said to Johanna about Gale.

"I do."

Annie smiled at her friend over her cup of tea. "He makes you happy. Keep him around. He's good for you."

Johanna smiled back. "I plan on it."

They said their goodbyes to Finnley before he went to bed- they would be gone hours before he would be awake. Annie had let him stay up longer than usual, but it was late and time for him to go to sleep.

He frowned, but hugged Johanna goodnight. "Come visit more." He demanded.

"Alright, buddy. I will." Johanna chuckled. "Good night, buddy."

Finnley kissed her cheek and then went over to Gale.

"Thank you for playing with me," he said. Annie nodded at her little boy, she had told him to say that.

"You're welcome." Gale replied.

"Will you come back again?"

Gale didn't quite know what to say to that. He glanced at Johanna and then Annie.

"You're more than welcome to come back whenever Johanna does." She told him sincerely.

Gale looked back to Finnley. "Then, that's a yes. I will come back at some point."

Finnley grinned brightly and hugged Gale, who, though surprised, returned the hug.

"I like you. You're fun." Finnley told him. "Good night!"

"Good night, Finnley." Gale replied.

Finnley bounded off towards the hallway and took his mother's hand. He waved at Johanna and Gale once more before following Annie to his bedroom.

"They like you," Johanna told Gale quietly.

"I noticed," Gale said in response.

"Guess I oughta keep you around, huh?" She bumped her shoulder into his.

"Guess so," he replied with a laugh.